Fountain-sponge.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

B. FANNING.

FOUNTAIN SPONGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26.1904.

.UVVE/VTOR J m/217g ltomey Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT Prion.

BENJAMIN FANNING, OF NEl/VARK, NElV YORK.

FOUNTAIN-SPONGE.

SPECIFICATION follning part Cf Letters Patent N0. 795,211, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed September 26, 1904. Serial No. 226,011.

To (Ml 1071 0711, it 717,01 cancer/L:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FANNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Wayne, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Sponges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a fountain-sponge, and particularly to a connection adapted for insertion within the body of the sponge for the introduction of water therethrough.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved construction of securing-flange and nipple which when introduced into an aperture within the sponge will be securely held by the elasticity of the sponge-body and maintain a proper feed of water to the body of the sponge. so as to maintain the cells or passages within said sponge-body full of water.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

in the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of the invention applied to a combination hot and cold water faucet; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section through the sponge; Fig. 3, a cross-section on the line 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. a a detail perspective of the flange and nipple.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

This invention is particularly adapted for application to a sponge formed of rubber or other elastic porous material adapted to hold within its body a volume of water when thoroughly saturated and to discharge this water from the pores of the sponge by the waterpressure or when the latter is compressed into contact with any body, as in a washing or sponging action.

The letter A designates a sponge of this character which has applied thereto a flexible cond noting-pipe A, of any desired length, provided at one end with a connector A, adapted to lit upon the dischargcspout A of a faucet of any desired character, the one here shown being a combination hot and cold water faucet by the use of which any desired temperature of water may be applied to the sponge. l/Vithin the body of the spongea longitudinal passage is provided and adapted to receive a conducting-pipe B, provided at its inner end with a perforated nipple B, while laterally of this passage a chamber is provided to receive the gripping-flange B secured to the outer periphery of the conducting-tube B and concaved toward the extended end of said tube, with its free end provided with a series of engaging teeth B'. This extended end of the tube may be provided with a ring B, over which the tube A is applied and interiorly threaded, as shown at B, for the purpose of applying a handle if it be desired to use the sponge removed from the conducting-pipe thereto.

The aperture within the sponge is of less diameter than the conducting-tube and flange inserted therein, so that the body of the sponge is expanded to allow the insertion of these parts, when it again contracts and firmly grasps the walls of the conducting-tube, nipple, and gripping-flange. After the insertion of these parts the teeth of the flange are engaged with the body of the sponge by exerting a longitudinal strain upon the sponge away from the entrance end of the tube, thus drawing the teeth into contact. hen thus inserted, it will be seen that the pressure of the water does not in any wise affect the retention of the sponge upon the conductingtube, while the extended nipple prevents the tearing away of the body of the sponge by lateral strain upon the gripping-flange, which otherwise is liable to occur, and the wateris introduced into the body of the sponge at a point beyond this flange, so that any pressure thereof tends to more tightly hold the flange in position. The gripping-flange B may be permanently secured to the conductingtubeas, for instance, by solderor removably connected therewith. In the latter instance it is desirable to provide the reduced nozzle B with exterior threads and the flange with a nut member B, into which the nozzle may be threaded, so that the flange Will rest against a shoulder at the base of the nozzle. This structure also permits the insertion of the flange in the recess within the sponge independent of the tube when found desirable, and the tube can then be threaded into the nut of the flange and a connection between the parts thus secured. The sponge may be removed from the conducting-pipe carried by the faucet and used independently thereof; but when used with this pipe and a combination-faucet any desired temperature of the flow of water through the sponge may be sccured, and if the water is underfull pressure it flows from the sponge in a large number of streams discharged from the various passages or pores thereof. The flow of water can be so regulated as to merely retain the sponge in a saturated condition, under which situation a very small quantity of water can be used for bathing purposes, whereas with a tub or shower-bath a much larger amount will be necessary.

it will thus be seen that the invention is capable of use either as a sponging or showering bath, and the passage of water therethrough removes from the sponge any impurities which may be taken up from the skin, maintaining acontinual flow of fresh clean water through the sponge and over the skin washed. The sponge can also be used in connection with the fountain-syringe and hot-water bags where there is no other source of supply, being adapted for tepid and sponge baths for invalids and children and suitable for the use of doctors and surgeons in hospitals and nurseries and is also suitable for touristswhile traveling to provide a sponge or shower bath always convenient.

it will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fountain-sponge. a sponge-body pro vided with an aperture and lateral recess therein, a conducting-tube provided at one end with perforations and seated in the aperture in said sponge, and a flange carried by said tube intermediate of the perforations and the outer end thereof and disposed within said recess.

2. Ina fountain-sponge, asponge-body provided with an aperture and lateral recess therein, a feeding-tube provided at one end with a perforated nipple and inserted within the aperture in said sponge, and a laterally-disposed gripping-flange carried upon the periphery of said tube and adapted to seat in said recess therefor within the sponge.

3. Ina fountain-sponge, a sponge-body provided with an aperture therein, a conductingtube provided at one end with a perforated ni pple and inserted within the aperture in said sponge,and a lateralIy-disposed concaved gripping-flange having a toothed free edge and carried by the periphery of said tube intermediate of the nipple and the opposite end thereof.

i. A feeding-tube for a fountain-spouge provided with a perforated nipple at one end reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder intermediate of the ends of the tube, and a radially-extemling flange secured to said tube in contact with said shouldeix In testimony whereof I affix my siguatu re in presence of two witnesses.

BEIJAlYllN FANNlNG.

itnesses:

[HOMAS BANNING, lV M. F. BRUWN. 

